European Ceramics specialist Dominic Simpson on the origins of the Meissen factory, from the man who claimed he could create gold to the monarch who commissioned a porcelain menagerie, plus advice on what to collect and how to spot a fake
In the 18th century, porcelain — also known at the time as ‘white gold’ — was one of the most highly prized commodities in the world. Trade in porcelain wares from the East was booming, but the question of how to imitate them was another matter. Porcelain was developed in China around 2,000 years ago, but the method for making it remained a mystery to Europeans until the early 18th century when Johann Friedrich Böttger discovered the magic formula, and in 1710 the Meissen factory was established. The factory went on to produce some of the finest wares and sculptures ever seen in the West, and remains one of the most sought-after names in European ceramics.